Candid Blue vs Major Blue
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Candid Blue (LRV 48) reflects noticeably more light than Major Blue (LRV 29), a difference of 19 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 15.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Candid Blue vs Major Blue in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Candid Blue and Major Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Candid Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Major Blue.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Candid Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Major Blue.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Candid Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Major Blue.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Candid Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Major Blue.
Color Details
Candid Blue vs Major Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Candid Blue on one side and Major Blue on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.